THE HOMERIC HYMNS, LN 235

After hearing her daughter's fading cry, Demeter went in search for Persephone. She searched everywhere for her, but no one would give her a straight answer. She mourned for 10 days until Hekate suggested that she ask Apollo for help. It was Apollo who informed Demeter of her daughters decent to Hades. It was then that Demeter lessened her form so that she could walk among mortals. When Demeter is wandering the Earth in search of her daughter she spends some time in the home of Metaneira and comes to care for her child, Demophoon, whom she begins to dip in the fire every night to make the child immortal. One day, however, Metaneira runs in and shouts in fear for her child who is immersed in the flames. This angers Demeter and she withdraws him from the fire without finishing the process of making him immortal.